witticisms by Jess Witty

August 14, 2012

Teach & Inspire



Welcome back, friends!

Today the Papertrey Ink design team is coming together for our second group featuring more from the August release {all available for purchase starting August 15}. 

And today's feature?  An all new set called Teach & Inspire...


I'm thinkin' you were able to tell the theme, though :)

I used four of the images in the set in strips right along the top.  I also added a strip of the Houndstooth background there at the end. {Sidenote... yeahhhh... *love* that new background.  It's definitely a new basic to me.} Love that the images definitely fit the school theme but are also so classicly designed... there's lots of room for creativity with them. 

I also found that Teach & Inspire also pairs super well with the new Thanks All Ways set.  The "thanks" sentiment is from that set while the smaller sentiment is from Teach & Inspire.  Layering smaller sentiments over larger ones is a favorite of mine... it's just an easy way to help each sentiment pack even more of a punch.


Because we're a homeschooling family, when it comes to teacher gifts, I'm usually thinking of Sunday School teachers in addition to our kiddos various other teachers (art, Spanish, etc.).  For that reason, I was trying to come up with a simple gift that would work for mass production.

Obviously, I went with the classic, never fail option :)
Who doesn't love an apple all cuted up with a little stem flag?
I used the lined stamp and stamped the alphabet image right on top to create that cutie pie flag. 


Brian found this whole set quite humorous... he thinks I made basically this whole set for myself since I'm the teacher around these parts ;)  I should probably give him a nudge that the teacher would not mind one bit if my sweet students showed up with a little gift for the teacher on the first day of school this year, ha! 


Let's switch gears a bit and focus on some of the other images in Teach & Inspire...


I have to say, as much as I love the school/teacher-y images in the set, there are some other sentiments in the set that really make it invaluable to me.  Can't tell you how much I really *love* the sentiments, especially the references to mentors.  They are just so perfect for me to make some special thank yous for the women that serve as mentors in my life.

I paired a few of those sentiments with another "thanks" from Thanks All Ways on this card to make a bit of word art on this vellum strip.  A little felt heart surrounded by the filigrees from Foodie Fun breaks things up nicely.


I repeated the chevrom image in Summer Sunrise, Berry Sorbet, Raspberry Fizz, and Royal Velvet and used those to frame the sentiments.  The chevron feel is repeated in the Houndstooth impression plate background. 

That little chevron image... holy cow is it going to get a lot of use around here.



This card makes me so happy... love my mentors and love that I have something just for them.  My favorite sets are always the versatile ones... this one fits the bill.
And for even more Teach & Inspire ideas, check out the rest of the design team...
Nichole Heady
Cristina Kowalczyk
(Erin Lincoln is taking a few months off to celebrate baby Sully!)

Thanks for all your sweet comments and encouragement this week!  Love that you guys love that little Foodie Fun chocolate bar from the last post.  You guys are the best.


{Making a Difference} card & apple
Supplies not available now but available 7/15: 
Stamps -Teach & Inspire, Background Basics: Houndstooth


Supplies available now:

{Inspire Encourage Mentor} card
Supplies not available now but available 7/15: 
Stamps -Teach & Inspire
Other - Houndstooth Impression Plate


Supplies available now:

19 comments:

Mary Lou Kemp said...

Wow, your cards are so cute. I just love the Teach & Inspire set. Thanks for sharing.

Amy Papale said...

Love your projects! So clean and crisp!

Gina said...

Love seeing how a homeschool family could use this set. yes, my son goes to preschool and I have those teachers, but I like seeing that I can use this for Sunday School teachers and AWANA workers, too. Thanks, Jess!!!

Nancy Penir said...

Just darling cards.
Home schooling rocks! Or should I say a foundation on a rock? And how thoughtful to show appreciation to the selfless teachers at Sunday school?

Suzanne Russell said...

Jess, you always inspire me with your unique take on project assignments. I love what you did with the chevrons and the word art "thank you".

Kari D said...

LOVE your projects. AS ALWAYS, amazing! The Thanks with the sentiment over it is just perfect and I adore the white embossed sentiment on the vellum. SIGH! Sending you a virtual first day of school apple! You rock as a teacher. Have an amazing year! Your student, Kari D!

Connie and Jack said...

Amazing cards! Love your color choices.
-- Connie C.

BeverlyBL said...

You did a GREAT job with this set. I was not "inspired" by this set at all until you showed things separately that I could use for other occasions. Didn't think I needed this release of Think Big, but love the overstamp, as well. Thanks for the heads up on some good stuff I was going to pass over.

conil said...

Just love your style. There's not a clunker in the lot. Always perfect.

Lisa M. (aka. Lisa @ Farm Fresh) said...

I had no idea that you homeschooled! We do too, so I never bothered teacher sets! LOL! But I have a lot of friends who are teachers...I'm sure they'd love a little card to cheer them up as they head off to school. These are lovely cards!

Lisa M.
Crafting Blog
Homeschooling Blog

Susan Gosman said...

That apple! What a great idea - as well as all the other great ideas you inspire us with.

Holly Saveur said...

Great ideas!

Ruth G said...

Your first card is perfect! I just love all those images from what I've seen of the stamp set and you put them all together with such fabulous style! You are the teacher here, too! Thanks for all you share!!!

Ohana in Bend said...

colorful and clean style. i love your cards!

jintyoo7 said...

The Chevron and HB impression plate are perfect partners :)

Jill Norwood said...

Love how you showcased these sets! Great cards and ideas!

Cristina said...

I love these cards. And thank you for the lightening bolt of inspiration about using the Thanks set in combination with the sentiments from Teach & Inspire. So smart, and I adore how you layered them.

Madeline Osigian said...

I want this card for my teacher! :)

alexandra s.m. said...

Gorgeous cards! amazing really!
Thank You!